Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim ’14 made headlines in late May when he abruptly resigned from his post, only two years into his four-year second term. Gene Nocera, then-president of the Middletown Common Council, stepped in as the interim mayor of Middletown on June 16.
Florsheim was first elected mayor in 2019 at the age of 27, becoming the youngest person in Middletown’s history to hold the office. In that election, he won District 9—which includes the University’s campus—by a margin of 443 votes to 77.
As of now, Nocera will be running as the sole Democratic candidate for mayor this November against Republican Sebastian Giuliano, who served as the mayor of Middletown from 2005 to 2011 and was defeated by Florsheim in the 2019 election. Giuliano was chosen unanimously by the Middletown Republican Town Committee this July. The winner will serve out the rest of Florsheim’s unfinished term, which ends in November 2027.
The Argus sat down with Nocera to discuss his sudden appointment to the mayorship and his ongoing campaign to retain his position.
Florsheim’s Resignation
Florsheim, who majored in the College of Social Studies (CSS), last spoke at the University at a Fall 2024 CSS dinner. Throughout the talk, he compared himself to the Greek mythological figure Sisyphus, a man eternally punished to push a boulder uphill.
In his official statement of resignation on May 20, Florsheim emphasized his optimism for Middletown’s future and his desire to return to a more ordinary life.
“Holding political office in these times is a solemn duty, one which I have taken seriously from the day that this community vested that trust in me,” Florsheim wrote. “It is also a deeply weird situation that takes its toll on those of us who ran to serve the needs of ordinary citizens by making it difficult, sometimes impossible, to live ordinary lives.”
The reason for Florsheim’s resignation was initially unclear. But in July, Florsheim announced at a meeting of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce that he planned to take on a high school teaching position.
“It’s not common that a mayor, a young mayor, says ‘I want to resign,’” Nocera said in an interview with The Argus. “I love the man, and we have a very strong relationship. He chose that, and as [Common Council] president, I fully support his decision. Fortunately, I was working closely with Ben, so I walked into knowing what I was faced with, what was going on in the community, [and] what needed to be improved on.”
When contacted for a comment, Florsheim’s former chief of staff indicated that the former mayor was not yet ready to speak with The Argus.
Nocera’s Platform
Nocera, a lifelong resident of Middletown, is known for his long career in education, having taught for almost 40 years in local middle schools and colleges. He later stepped into the role of Chair of the Middletown Public Works Commission before becoming President of the Common Council.
In his conversation with The Argus, Nocera expressed frustration with the nation’s political climate.
“Allowing polarization to take hold and to dictate policy because of what’s happening in our country is, I think, short-sighted,” he argued. “What’s happening now is disgraceful, nationally.”
This November, Middletown residents will vote on a public work referendum deciding allocation of $42.5 million in local funds for repairing roads, streetlights, and guardrails. Funds would also go towards rebuilding the public parks building and developing the city’s sewer system. Money for the projects will be partially sourced from revenue raised from speeding tickets.
Should voters elect Nocera, a different relationship between the University and Middletown may develop. As President of the Common Council, Nocera supported a resolution to tax the endowments of private universities in Connecticut.
The Future of the University-Middletown Relationship
“Wesleyan University uses city resources without paying taxes,” Nocera said. “If and when there are fires on the Wesleyan campus, the Middletown Fire Department responds. If and when there are crimes on the Wesleyan campus, the Middletown PD responds.”
Middletown has been looking to replenish its budget after years of financial strain. The town is juggling inflation and a tax freeze during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nocera says he sat down to discuss the matter with President Michael Roth ’78 earlier this month, and Roth confirmed that the two had met. Nocera expressed hope that his office and the University will work together more closely in the future.
“Right now, [it’s] is getting tougher and tougher for us to sustain the services that [Wesleyan should] be getting,” Nocera said. “We need everyone to recognize we can’t do it alone.”
While Florsheim’s resignation unexpectedly catapulted Nocera to Middletown’s top position, he stressed that he intends to stay for the long run.
“I understand that politics is difficult, but I’m fully prepared to [meet] whatever challenges I’m faced with to get us to the finish line,” Nocera said. “We had a mayor who just said, ‘It’s not for me.’ This is for me.”
Aarushi Bahadur can be reached at abahadur@wesleyan.edu.
Conrad Lewis can be reached at cglewis@wesleyan.edu.
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